RI territory 4.9 million sq. km.
RI territory 4.9 million sq. km.
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has complete sovereignty over a total
area of 4.9 million square kilometers and "economic rights" over
an additional three million square kilometers, Indonesia's top
marine law expert says.
Mochtar Kusuma-Atmadja said during a hearing with Commission I
of the House of Representatives yesterday that Indonesia's
territorial sovereignty covers 1.9 million square kilometers of
land and three million square kilometers of seas.
Mochtar was clarifying earlier reports suggesting that
Indonesia's territory has grown by another three million square
kilometers when the 1982 UN Convention of the Sea of Law came
into force last Nov. 16, the Antara news agency reported.
Under the convention, Indonesia's claim as an archipelagic
state was given an international recognition, which means its
sovereignty covers the waters that span between the 17,000
islands in the archipelago.
The convention also recognizes Indonesia's new, exclusive
economic zone of an additional three million square kilometers,
over which Indonesia has economic jurisdiction but not full
sovereignty.
In these areas Indonesia can apply its economic laws and
impose sanctions on foreign fishermen who operate in the area
without a permit, for example. But Indonesia cannot prevent
international shippers or aviators from using the area for their
passage, he added.
Recognition
Indonesia hailed recognition of the UN convention, in
particular because it finally recognizes its status as an
archipelagic state. In addition to Indonesia, the convention also
benefits other archipelagic nations like the Philippines and
Fiji. Indonesia has been fighting hard for the recognition and
Mochtar, a former foreign minister and a lawyer by training, was
pivotal in the endeavor.
Mochtar yesterday sought to play down the significance of the
development, stressing that even without the convention,
Indonesia's claim had already been recognized by nearly 16
countries through various bilateral agreements.
"It's not true to say that the archipelagic state concept was
only recognized by the UN and the world after Nov. 16, 1994. Long
before that, several countries had actually recognized it."
The only difference is that now, countries that have not
ratified the convention are also subject to the terms of the law,
he said. (emb)